#Clothing #giant #Zara #faces #boycott #calls #proPalestinian #activists #accuse #039mocking039 #deaths #Gaza #advertising #campaign #features #mannequin #wrapped #white #plastic #surrounded #rubble
- Zara’s ‘The Jacket’ campaign has received a wave of backlash on ‘X’
Fashion giant Zara is facing calls for a boycott today from pro-Palestinian activists over its latest advertising campaign.
Critics accused the retailer of insensitivity towards deaths in war-torn Gaza after images from the fashion shoot featured mannequins with missing limbs and a model in a wooden box and surrounded by rubble.
Other images, which now appear to haven been removed from the firm’s Instagram page, show supermodel Kirsten McMenamy posing with mannequins wrapped in white cloth and plastic.
Some users said they were similar to the photos taken in Gaza during the Israel-Hamas war, of dead bodies wrapped in white shrouds.
The campaign for the Spain-based fashion giant quickly received a wave of backlash online, with posts branding it ‘shameful,’ ‘disgusting’ and a ‘mockery’, with #BoycottZara trending on X.
Artist Hazem Harb wrote in an Instagram post: ‘There is a sinister depravity in the commercial mind that produced this ad, while we are living a real time genocide.
‘Using death and destruction as a backdrop for fashion is beyond sinister, its complicity and should outrage us as consumers. Boycott Zara.’
![Fashion giant Zara has come under fire for its new campaign that features a mannequin wrapped in white plastic and surrounded by rubble](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/11/12/78819193-12849919-image-a-3_1702296250454.jpg)
Fashion giant Zara has come under fire for its new campaign that features a mannequin wrapped in white plastic and surrounded by rubble
![Social media users took to X to criticise the campaign, referring to it as 'shameful,' 'disgusting' and a 'mockery](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/11/14/78819185-12849919-Social_media_users_took_to_X_to_criticise_the_campaign_referring-a-162_1702305999009.jpg)
![Zara has yet to issue a response to the criticism it has received](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/11/14/78819189-12849919-Zara_has_yet_to_issue_a_response_to_the_criticism_it_has_receive-a-163_1702305999009.jpg)
Social media users took to X to criticise the campaign, referring to it as ‘shameful,’ ‘disgusting’ and a ‘mockery’. These two images have been deleted from their Instagram page after they were compared to photos of dead bodies in Gaza
![Shoppers walk past a Zara shop window at Passeig de Gracia in Barcelona, Spain today](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/11/15/78822405-12849919-Shoppers_walk_past_a_Zara_shop_window_at_Passeig_de_Gracia_in_Ba-a-1_1702308524804.jpg)
Shoppers walk past a Zara shop window at Passeig de Gracia in Barcelona, Spain today
Sarah Wilkinson wrote on the social media platform X: ‘Boycott Zara after its new clothing collection features rubble and bodies, mocking the 1,000s of Palestinians being massacred by Israelis in Gaza.’
Ahmed Shihab-Eldin said that Zara had won ‘the award for most tone deaf brand of the year’.
One user posted a side-by-side of the Zara campaign image and a woman suffering in the Gaza-Israel conflict.
One user posted: ‘You are disgusting!! Boycotting you forever!! Free Palestine.’
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/11/15/78822415-12849919-image-a-2_1702308524805.jpg)
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/11/15/78822413-12849919-image-a-3_1702308524812.jpg)
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/11/15/78819141-12849919-image-a-4_1702308524813.jpg)
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/11/15/78819119-12849919-image-a-5_1702308524814.jpg)
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/11/15/78819127-12849919-image-a-6_1702308524815.jpg)
![One user posted a side-by-side of one of the photos from Zara's campaign and an image of a woman suffering in the Gaza-Israel conflict](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/11/15/78819123-12849919-One_user_posted_a_side_by_side_of_one_of_the_photos_from_Zara_s_-a-7_1702308524816.jpg)
One user posted a side-by-side of one of the photos from Zara’s campaign and an image of a woman suffering in the Gaza-Israel conflict
Another wrote: ‘The most disgusting propaganda campaign ever inspired by the killing of Palestinians and the destruction of their homes. Shame on you.’
In Montreal, Canada, activists sprayed Zara stores with pro-Palestinian slogans.
Zara has described the new clothing line on its Instagram page as: ‘A limited edition collection from the house celebrating our commitment to craftsmanship and passion for artistic expression.’
It comes one month after Marks & Spencer’s came under fire for their Christmas advert and were forced to apologise.
![Social media users compared the images in the campaign as resembling photos taken in Gaza during the recent conflict](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/11/15/76787427-12849919-A_view_of_a_damaged_car_covered_in_debris_at_the_site_of_Israeli-a-12_1702309063536.jpg)
Social media users compared the images in the campaign as resembling photos taken in Gaza during the recent conflict
![Palestinian man grieves over the body of a relative wrapped in a shroud labelled with a name, at the Najjar hospital in the southern Gaza Strip. Social media users today said these images were similar to those used in the Zara campaign](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/11/15/76787799-12849919-Palestinian_man_grieves_over_the_body_of_a_relative_wrapped_in_a-a-13_1702309066414.jpg)
Palestinian man grieves over the body of a relative wrapped in a shroud labelled with a name, at the Najjar hospital in the southern Gaza Strip. Social media users today said these images were similar to those used in the Zara campaign
Pro-Palestinians claimed the retailer’s festive advert, depicting the burning of paper hats and crackers, were in the colours of the Palestinian flag and were insulting to its people.
One of the stars of the M&S advert, Queer Eye super-stylist Tan France, accused social media users of making ‘ridiculous comments’ because the ad was filmed in August – two months before the Israel-Hamas war broke out.
A statement issued by a spokesperson for M&S read: ‘Today we shared an outtake image from our Christmas Clothing and Home advert, which was recorded in August.
‘It showed traditional, festive coloured red, green and silver Christmas paper party hats in a fire grate.
![Marks & Spencer was forced to apologise for a light-hearted image of Christmas hats being burned after critics pointed out they were the colours of the Palestinian flag](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/11/15/77299185-12849919-Marks_Spencer_was_forced_to_apologise_for_a_light_hearted_image_-a-8_1702308524817.jpg)
Marks & Spencer was forced to apologise for a light-hearted image of Christmas hats being burned after critics pointed out they were the colours of the Palestinian flag
![M&S apologised for the outtake image from their Christmas advert - which they said was recorded in August](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/11/15/77298983-12849919-M_S_apologised_for_the_outtake_image_from_their_Christmas_advert-a-9_1702308524818.jpg)
M&S apologised for the outtake image from their Christmas advert – which they said was recorded in August
‘While the intent was to playfully show that some people just don’t enjoy wearing paper Christmas hats over the festive season, we have removed the post following feedback and we apologise for any unintentional hurt caused.’
Israeli designer Dodo Bar Or also had her clothing lines removed from Net-a-Porter and MyTheresa after she was accused of posting a video comparing terror group Hamas to ISIS.
The BDS Movement – which stands for boycotts, divestments and sanctions – has been urging supporters to put ‘pressure’ on companies that are perceived as being supportive of Israel.
An Instagram post named McDonald’s as one of the chains it was targeting alongside a host of other high street names.
A McDonald’s in Keighley, West Yorkshire, was struck by yobs draped in Palestinian flags last month, who shoved their way inside before releasing stick insects.
Video of the apparent aftermath appears to indicate that its windows were also smashed.
Meanwhile, protesters released mice into three McDonald’s branches in Birmingham, with some filmed calling for a ‘boycott’ of the chain.
Zara has been contacted for comment by MailOnline. They have yet to release a public response to the criticism.
Hamas launched its attack against Israel on October 7. Its marauding gang of armed terrorists were responsible for slaughtering more than 1,200 Israelis during their raid.
Thugs from the terror group have been accused of raping women, beheading children and murdering pensioners in their homes. Horrific images on social media even showed Hamas gunman dragging the corpses of Israeli citizen through Gaza City as baying crowds cheered ‘Allahu Akbar’.
The invasion sparked outrage and led to a vicious retaliation from Israel, which launched a relentless campaign of bombings against Gaza, levelling much of the territory – before thousands of troops stormed across the border on a mission to ‘eliminate’ Hamas.
But Israel’s actions of prompted widespread condemnation from Middle Eastern leaders, with the UN Secretary General last week calling for an end to hostilities – a plea which Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has so far resisted.
Meanwhile, pressure has been mounting on political leaders in the UK to take action, with demonstrations breaking out across major British cities, which have seen thousands of pro-Palestinian supporters repeatedly marching through London, demanding a ceasefire.
The public protests have also led to a slew of alleged anti-semitic signs and chants during the rallies, which have sparked arrests and investigations by the Metropolitan Police.
Other major retailers have also been caught up in the political firestorm, with pro-Palestine supporters calling for boycotts on the likes of Prett and Starbucks, on top of M&S, McDonald’s and Zara.
![Pro-Palestine protesters target a Pret coffee shop in Manchester on last month](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/11/16/77969973-12849919-Pro_Palestine_protesters_target_a_Pret_coffee_shop_in_Manchester-a-53_1702311754115.jpg)
Pro-Palestine protesters target a Pret coffee shop in Manchester on last month
![Officers stood guard outside a closed Starbucks in Manchester after protesters began targeting chains they claimed support Israel](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/11/16/77969967-12849919-Officers_stood_guard_outside_a_closed_Starbucks_in_Manchester_af-a-54_1702311757137.jpg)
Officers stood guard outside a closed Starbucks in Manchester after protesters began targeting chains they claimed support Israel
![Police stand between protesters and the window of a McDonald's restaurant in Oxford Street, Manchester](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/11/16/77966677-12849919-Police_stand_between_protesters_and_the_window_of_a_McDonald_s_r-a-55_1702311773249.jpg)
Police stand between protesters and the window of a McDonald’s restaurant in Oxford Street, Manchester
![Police offiers detain a pro-Palestinian protester who took part in a sit-in demonstration at London's Waterloo Station calling for a ceasefire in Gaza](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/11/16/77967211-12849919-Police_offiers_detain_a_pro_Palestinian_protester_who_took_part_-a-56_1702311783241.jpg)
Police offiers detain a pro-Palestinian protester who took part in a sit-in demonstration at London’s Waterloo Station calling for a ceasefire in Gaza
Photographs from Manchester showed a line of police officers standing outside McDonald’s in Oxford Street as a group of men, some wearing Palestinian keffiyeh scarves, held up a Palestine flag and pushed up against the officers.
Protesters also targeted a Pret-A-Manger and Starbucks coffee shops, with a sign showing the Starbucks store was shut due to ‘unforeseen circumstances’.
The protestors in Manchester claimed that Pret and Starbucks are supporting Israel by opening outlets in the country. Video taken from this afternoon’s march shows protestors shouting ‘shame on you’ and ‘boycott Pret’ outside the store.
Others pressed carboard banners on the windows of the café at the junction of Oxford Street and Portland Street. Police officers atended the scene and ordered the protestors to move away from the area.
Demonstrators also shouted ‘shame’ as they passed a Starbucks on Peter Street. Another branch of Starbucks on Deansgate was closed ‘due to unforeseen circumstances’, according to a note posted on the front door.
Shops were later closed in Manchester amid fears for staff safety following the protests.